Four Brothers and a Bride

Chapter 98

Chapter 98: Chapter 98

ASHTON

I can’t believe father. What sick joke is he trying to play with us right now? He really invited his bastard son to our mansion? How dare him bring Josh in here to have lunch with our mother?

Father ignores our death stares and waves Josh in.

"Barbara, you remember Josh, right? He works with us at the HQ."

"Yes. Hello Josh." Mom beams at Josh as he edges closer. "Who can forget this hardworking young man? Josh Randall, right?"

"Yes ma’am."

"Hi Mr. Randall. Nice of you to join us." Demi utters with a smile.

"Thank you, Demi."

"I think I met your mother at the last AGM. Kristy Randall." Mother adds.

Beside her, father almost chokes. Good for him. He wants to play dirty? Four can play that game. I give my brothers just one look and we all return to our seats. I’ll handle this.

Josh offers mom an expensive bottle of wine as a token of appreciation for being invited to eat with us. Oliver’s replacement, a new face in a clean-cut suit, accepts the drink and disappears into the kitchen. Josh slips into his chair and nods at father.

"I’ve met Kristy too. She came by my office to buy a car a while back."

"Really?"

"Yes mom." I exchange looks with Josh and father. "She had A LOT to say to me about my looks and how she doesn’t think they match up with father’s looks in his hay days."

Josh laughs. "My mom likes to make small talk every chance she gets. Where there isn’t anything to be discussed, she has a penchant for making things up." He places his napkin on his thigh and steals a glance at father who is busy watching me.

"I met Kristy at the AGM too. I recall the long, nasty red nails." Asher quips with a sly smile. "In fact, father recently demanded something of me. He requested I go over and have lunch with..."

"BOYS, SHALL I HAVE A WORD?" Father asks, leaping to his feet. He leans down to press a kiss to mother’s forehead. "We’ll be brief, darling. Do keep Josh company in the meantime. Josh, consider this your second home and help yourself with anything you like. I’ll just be back."

I drop my cutlery with a loud clatter, glare at father before joining my brothers to his study. Inside, father shuts the door so no sound can escape.

"YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO BRING HIM HERE!" I begin impatiently. "How could you think to disrespect our mother like that? Do we look like a joke to you? It’s bad enough that you cheated on her with Josh’s mom and even sired a son. You know how much that would crush her and yet you bring Josh in here for what? How do you think she will feel when she finds out the entire truth eventually and remembers this day?"

"The least you should have done is keep the product of your disgraceful act as far away from my mother as possible." Ashal blurts out with red rimmed eyes. "Don’t delude yourself by thinking we can ever accept Josh as part of our family. We will never hold hands around a fire and sing kumbaya, you get it?"

Father sinks into his chair and regards us with a hand under his chin.

"What are you going to do next? Invite that cheap whore who birthed your son to share a meal with our mother too?"

"Watch your mouth, Asher. This is all thanks to you. If you had done as I had asked and had a simple lunch with Josh and his mother instead of insulting them badly, I would have had the heart to turn down Josh’s request to have lunch with us like this."

"Are you kidding me?" I lash at him. "That’s your grand excuse for breaking your promise to us by bringing Josh in here?" I slam my hands on his desk. "You have two minutes to make him leave or I will personally reveal what a cheating, lying scumbag you are to mother!" My heated glare cuts through father’s defensiveness and I watch his shoulders sag.

"You wouldn’t dare, Ashton."

I scoff at him. "Mom’s going to find out anyway, right? How about today? How about now?" I turn and head for the door. "LET’S ALL BE MAD TOGETHER."

"ASHTON! GET BACK HERE. YOU THREE, GET YOUR BROTHER!"

But nobody moves to stop me. Father rushes out of his chair as I yank the door open and head for the dining area. With father and my brothers on my tail, I circle the table to go stand next to Josh who is smiling gaily as mother regales him and Demi with a few stories. They’ve barely touched their meals. The trio look up as the table is surrounded.

"Something wrong?" Mom asks, looking around.

going to ask him to leave or

Ashton? Who wants Josh to leave? He hasn’t done anything

as politely

she plunks

exactly is going on here?" Mom asks, rising. Father looks defeated as he glances

to see you. I hope we get to meet again. I’d love to hear more stories

can leave unfettered. "Good bye, Randall.

me before turning to Josh. "I’m sorry about my sons. I have no

head at her before turning to give Demi a peck on her cheek. She also apologizes to him. After he leaves, she glares at my brothers and I. Father angrily abandons lunch to retreat to

that?" Mom thunders. "How could you all band together to embarrass that young man like that? What has he ever done to you? Asher, is this about the office rivalry between you two? How could you act so immature because he’s

her but she cuts him

is your justification for acting so mannerlessly? You all aren’t twelve anymore and filled with childish mischief. How can you possibly defend yourselves right now?" Mom is very pissed off. We didn’t think or at least I know I

you forgotten so soon how he lied against us over the incident at the club few months back?

was lying? I have seen firsthand how you guys behave around him. It isn’t far fetched that you all can gang up and beat

he is a very bad person. He didn’t just lie

"What?"

but Ashton secretly wore an arm cast under his jacket for days. He hid it from you so you wouldn’t get worried. Josh had stabbed his arm with a shard of broken

it? Where

happened a while back. I’m fine now. Do you understand why we loathe Josh now? He pretends to be a saint in front of people he hopes to impress like you and father but underneath, he’ll bury a dagger in our chests if he could get away

"Don’t say that."

I can’t pretend to gloss over the evil in his heart. Please, make sure father never invites that man back into this house or we’ll do worse than throw

She kisses my cheeks and goes

you.

and kisses her hair. Hooking an arm over her shoulder, he escorts her to her room. The rest of us are left with just

apologize. I didn’t know Josh

eyes at her. The rest of us also turn to Demi. Asher had mentioned that Demi might have overheard him talking to Josh in his office and deduced that Josh is father’s son

through that door. How exactly am I supposed to invite someone to have lunch with our family when I don’t own the mansion? I can’t even invite Anna unless mother approves it." She shoves her seat back and tries to walk out but Ashley blocks her path.

is bad news, Demi. Stay away from him at work if you

truly the devil as you all make him out to be, father would probably not be fond of him. I’m sorry but I won’t refuse his friendship or give him the cold shoulder simply because you all hate him. Whatever issue you’ve got with him stays between you all. Don’t drag me into it." With that,

minutes later, my brothers and I are

He blurts out. We all wait a beat for the information to sink in.

"What?" We all gasp.

would you do that? That woman is bad news

Demi and kept chanting about wanting a shot with her. I finally removed myself from the picture and he decides to keep his side

just proved to me that he only wanted to sleep with her. He never planned to make a life with her. While everyone cautions and chides him over his poor decision to keep Nicci

suspected that Demi was pregnant so Demi took a test." My anger fades to surprise at his words. While Asher grits his teeth and Ashal keeps a straight face, my mind reels back to the time

relieved but instead, I felt a bit sad. I didn’t realize I was silently

such a woman. Ashal, can you talk to him? I am done trying to convince him not to ruin his

just becomes bitter parents to an innocent child. Think about our childhood. Don’t you want your child to grow

directly. "Should I keep trying to win Demi over and have a baby

He’s baiting me.

ask Shay. I wonder what plans she’ll come

Ashley’s eyes darken.

are trying to start a family too early with a woman you just got to give you a chance at love. On the other, you’re still sleeping with your ex who, might I add, was just uncovered as the mastermind behind your most recent traumatic experience. I don’t care what

you marrying a woman you don’t love just to prove you are capable of moving on from my wife? The love in your relationship is also unrequited and if Mila ever wants a baby, you’ll give it to her just to douse any suspicions about your loyalty. Ashal, you’re very much in the same boat as me. Asher, you’ll never marry for love because

one says anything in

Demi and I. I don’t appreciate anyone dumping their opinions about that particular matter on me. As for Nicci, consider it as me upholding the wisdom nugget that says keep your friends close and your enemies closer. She still has her uses, thanks to Demi’s indifference to my manly needs." He sweeps the

stones

***

to go handle some private matters. Ashal notices my exit and comes rushing

want to get to the bottom of you know what so I can nip it in the bud. I really can’t ignore it however

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Comments ()

0/255